Pipe-line cleaner loading and cleanout device



Jun. 3; 1950 w. H. ROBERTS 2,493,504

PIPE LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUT DEVICE Filed July 9, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 2o Z6 Z5 39 E2 3 a 24 Z7 22/2 24 35 z 34 .20 20 w 5/ 4541a I r Q 1 53 60 6 I so William H. Roberfs IN V EN TOR.

BY 2/413 M Jan. 3, 1950 w. H. ROBERTS 2,493,504

PIPE LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUT DEVICE Filed July 9, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 2 syrup- "up William H.12oberts INVEN TOR.

BY w

ATTUKA/[Y Patented Jan. 3, 1950 PIPE-LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUTDEVICE William H. Roberts, Dallas, Tex. Application July 9, 1946, SerialNo. 682,428

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe linecleaner loading and cleanout devices.

It is well known that pipe lines used for conveying gases and otherfluids over considerable distances accumulate quantities of paraflin andother foreign matter, corrosion and the like, on their interior walls,These accumulations interv fere with eflicient flow through the pipeline. As a result, it is now common practice to insert a cleaningprojectile or go-devil in the pipe line and to propel the projectilethrough the pipe line by the pressure of the fluids being pumpedtherethrough. The practice customarily followed in inserting thecleaning projectile requires cutting the pipe line in two at the desiredpoint, inserting the projectile into the line, and reconnecting thesevered sections to permit the fluid pressure reapplied within the pipeline to flow the cleaning projectile through such line to remove theaccumulations of foreign matters from the Walls thereof. Such operationsare ex-. pensive and dangerous, and may result in a considerable loss ofgas or other fluid from the pipe line when the same is cut to permitinsertion of the cleaning projectile.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a devicepermitting insertion of a pipe line cleaner in a pipe line withoutinterfering with the normal use of and flow through such pipe line.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device arranged topermit the insertion of a cleaner projectile in a pipe line, and whereinthe operation of inserting the cleaner projectile may be carried outwithout parting the pipe line or otherwise interfering with the normaloperation and use of such line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is so arranged that the cleaner projectile maybe inserted and removed under pressure, or Without loss of pressure fromthe pipe line or stopping flow therethrough.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is constantly ready for use after having oncebeen installed in the pipe line, said device being capable of operationby a single attendant, whereby a plurality of devices may be operated bya single attendant and the cost of operation is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide devices of the characterdescribed which are adapted to be connected at a plurality of spaced 2points in the pipe line to provide for selective cleaning of any desiredsection of the pipe line without interfering. with the normal usethereof and. her t r iieh,

A still further object of the invention is to. provide, in a device. oithe character described, means for stopping the cleaner projectile,flowing through the pipe line from upstream of Such device, said meansalso serving to prevent injury of or ama o. th ii ser e m c an sm- Stillanother object of the invention is to prod a dev e o the har er d cr b de n the relati fily Small quantities of gases or other fluids flowingthrough the pipe line which must e, r eas d in oper iqn of he device aonfined nd nv e remot o nt w r y the danger of explosion or Iire or thelike is materially reduced, and loss of valuable fluids from within theline, is substantially prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is im le and ru e n t uc i n w reby costs f rai n. and m intenance a e minimized.

d it on l ob ect and a van ges. of the i vention will readily beapparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and efer nce to. th accompani dr w n s thereo wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly n sect on, of a dev ec truc ed n. accordance with the invention and showing the loadingbarrel in loading position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device,

Figure 3 is a iew similar to Figure 1, showing the loading barrel in thelowered position in li nment wi h he p pe e, and

Figure 4, is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the shockabsorbing stop means in posii n for st p n c ean proj ctile.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an elongate uprightrectangular case or. housing having an inlet conduit [I locatedsubstantially axially in one end wall and communicating with theinterior or chamber I; of the housing, and having an outlet; conduit l3,at the opposite end wall of the housing in axial alignment with theinletconduit. The inlet, and outlet conduits are provided with flanges il at their outer end, whereby the flanged end connectors l5, of a pipein may be olt 9! o h rwis s t se u her q to on ect, t e musin in, the ipl o that fl id fl wi hro h ai Pi e th may o t rou h hcueie Anim a fl n srings I6 are screw-threaded or otherwise releas- 'sure seating the sameeach end, and vertically extending operating rods 19 are welded,threaded, or otherwise suitably secured to the enlarged portions of thetube and ex-, tend upwardly through the upper wall of the housing.Stuffing boxes 20 having packing 2! held securely therein by glandmembers .22, prevent fluid pressure leakage between the operating rodsand the upper wall of the housing. 7

The upper portion of each operating rod is externally screw-threaded andgear wheels 23 having axial internal screw threads corresponding to thethread on the operating rod mesh with the threads on said rod to actuatethe same. The gear wheels are rotatably mounted on brackets 24 securedto the upper surface of the housing. If desired, an elongate tubularcover 25 may be slipped over the extreme upper portion of each operatingrod above the gear wheels and rest upon and be supported by said gearwheels.

A large drive gear 25 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 21 on the upperside of the housing and is arranged to mesh with the external gear teethof the gear weels 23- to cause the gear wheels-to turn in unison. Alarge hand wheel 28 is connected to or formed integral with the drivegear 26, whereby an attendant. may rotate the hand wheel to rotate thedrive gear and, in turn, rotate the gears 26.. Due to the fact that thelarge drive gear meshes with both the smaller gear wheels 23, said gearwheels will be turned in unison in the same relative direction. Asthe'small gear wheels 23 are rotated, it is obvious that the threads inthe axial openings of such gear wheels will rotate with respect to theoperating rods to move the operating rods longitudinally. Therefore, thehand wheel 28 may be manipulated by an attendant to turn the drive gear25, to drive the gear wheels 23, and thereby raise or lower theoperatingrods and the tube or barrel connected thereto. I

Wedge rings 30 are arranged to be interposed between the ends of thetube l1 and the seat rings Iii-to provide. a fluid tight sealtherebetween. The inner surface of each wedge ringis flared outwardlyand downwardly from its upper end, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and3,.and is adapted to engage a similar angular or inclined face on theends of the tube or barrel l1. While the ends of the tube. may simply beformed to correspond to the inner'faces of the wedge rings, itis'preferable that a flanged replaceable seatingface member3l bethreaded onto each end of said tube in such a manner that the'seatingface, is disposed at the same angle as the inner surface of the wedges.A spacer washer 32 is interposed between the ends of the tube and theinwardly directed flange or seating face of each face member to providefor longitudinal adjustment of the length of the tube to positively asinfluid tight relationship with the wedge rings 30. By changing thethickness of the washer 32, wear .of the wedge ring or of the facemember may be compensated to positively assure alignment of the bore [8of 4 the tube with the inlet and outlet conduits when the tube is in theposition shown in Figure 3.

The wedge rings are raised or lowered by means of an elongate operatingscrew or rod 33 which is welded, threaded, or otherwise secured to theside of each ring at its upper or narrowest portion. The operating screwrod extends upwardly through the upper wall of the housing, and leakageof fluid pressure therebetween is prevented by a stufling box 34 havingpacking 35 securely compressed therein by a gland member 36. Aninternally screw threaded bushing 31 is rotatablysecuredin a bracket 38mounted on the upper surface of the housing and the internal screwthreads of the bushing are arranged to mesh with the external screwthreads on the operating rod 33. A hand wheel 39 connected to or formedintegral with the bushing 31 may be manipulated to rotate the bushing tocause longitudinal adjustment of the screw rods, whereby the wedge ring30 may be raised or lowered within thehousing.

Arcuate stop members 4|, welded or otherwise suitably secured to thewalls of the .housingjust below the seating rings l6,'limit downwardmovement of the wedge rings and, consequently, also limit downwardmovement of the tube or barrel l1, whereby the wedge rings and the tubeare positioned in alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits.

A loading opening 45, having a replaceable seat ring member 46 screwthreaded or otherwise suitably secured therein, is formed in the outletend wall of the housing above the outlet conduit l3. This opening isnormally closed by a trap door or hatch 41 which may be suitably hingedor otherwise swingably mounted on the housing and is normally securelyclamped or locked in closed position. An exhaust vent pipe 48 having avalve 49 therein is threaded but may be welded into the trap doororhatch'fil and provides means for venting fluids from within thehousing at that point. An annular seat ring 50 is replaceably mounted onthe inlet end wall of the housing above the inlet conduit I l and inhorizontal alignment with the loading opening 45.

The .Wedge rings 30 are adapted to seat on the seat rings 46 and 50 toseal between the ends of the tube l1 and the end walls of the housing asshown in Figure 1. When the tube or barrel and the wedge rings are inthe position shown in Figure 1, gas or other fluid contained within thebore l8 of the tube may be exhausted or permitted to escape therefrom bymeans of a vent line 5! communicating with the interior of the housingsubstantially axially of the seat ring 59.

A vent valve 52 connected in the vent line normally prevents escape ofgases from within the housing, butmay be opened to permit exhausting orventing the gases therefrom if desired. The gases or any fluids sovented or exhausted are conducted tc a remote safe point by means of anexhaust pipe 53 communicating with the vent line 5! and the vent valve52.

After the pressure fluids within the tube l! have been exhausted orvented through the vent line 5!, the trap door M may be opened topermit'access .to the bore of the tube, whereby a cleaner projectile Cof any desired suitable type may be inserted within the bore of the tubeto the position shown in Figure 1. The trap door 41 is then securelyclosed. In order to prevent the admissionof air into the pipe line,some'of the pressure fluids which are flowing through such pipe line areconducted by the bore of A means of a by-pass pipe 54 having .a bY-passvalve 55 therein from the inlet conduit II to the bore of the tube toexpel the air therefrom and to equalize the pressure within the bore ofthe tube with the pressure in the pipe line and the interior or chamberl2 of the housing. This is accomplished by closing the vent valve 52,opening the exhaust valve t9, and then opening the by-pass valve 55. Thepressure fluids within the pipeline will flow through the by-pass pipe54 to the bore of the tube and longitudinally therethrough to theexhaustorbleeder line 48. Thus, the pressure fluids will expel the airfrom within the bore of the tube outwardly through the exhaust orbleeder pipe 48. When the air has been ejected, the valve 49 is closedto trap the pressure fluid being conducted to the bore of the tubethrough the by-pass line 54. When the pressure within the bore of thetube becomes equal to the pressure of the fluid within the pipe line,the valve 55 is closed. The fluid pressures of all the elements withinthe housing are then in balance or fully equalized.

The tube Il may then be lowered into alignment with the inlet and outletconduits to permit the: cleaner projectile to flow through the pipe lineto clean the same.

:In lowering the tube to the position shown in Figure 3, the. wedgerings 36 are first lowered by rotating the threaded bushings 31 to movethe screw rods 33 downwardly, whereby said wedge rings will be loweredinto engagement with the stop members 4|. After the wedge rings havebeen so lowered, the hand wheel 28 is turned to turn the drive gear 26to cause rotation of the gear wheels 23. Rotation of the gear wheelscauses the operating rods H) to be moved downwardly to lower the tubeinto alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits. The wedge rings 30may be raised slightly, if necessary, to assure a positive fluid tightseal between the ends of the tube ll and the seat rings 56, wherebypressure fluids flowing through the. pipe line L are directed solelythrough the tube and cannot enter the chamber 52 of the housing. Thecleaner projectile C is then forced or flowed out of the tube throughthe outlet conduit and on downstream through the pipe line L by thepressure of the fluids flowing through said pipe line.

With the tube or barrel H in the lowered position, the accumulation ofmatter which has been cleaned from the bore of the pipe line and hasflowed into the interior of the housing may be removed therefrom byopening a clean-out valve 6Q which is connected in a clean-out line Elcommunicating with the bottom of the housing and with the exhaust line53. When the fluid tight seal has been formed between the ends of thetube l1 and the inlet and outlet conduits, fluid pressure therein willbe excluded from the housing chamber and the pressure fluid within thechamber may flow outwardly through the clean-out line to a remote point,carrying with it such fiuidportions of the foreign matter depositedwithin the housing as will readily flow therefrom.

In order to fully or completely clean the interior of the housing aclean-out opening 62 is formed in the outlet end wall below the outletconduit l3. This clean-out opening is normally closed by a trap door orhat-ch 53 which is hingedly connected or otherwise swingably secured tothe end wall of the housing and is arranged to be normally securelyclamped or fastened in position closing such opening. A bleeder pipe, 64

through theclean-out line 6! to reduce thepresa.

sure within the housing to approximately atmospheric pressure, theclean-out trap door '63 may be opened to provide access to the interiorof the housing for completely and adequately cleaning the'same.Likewise, any cleaner projectile which has been. stopped and depositedwithin the interior of the housing in the position shown in Figure 3maybe removed therefrom through such. clean-out opening 62'.

When the housing has been cleaned and the cleaner projectile removedfrom the bottom thereof, the clean-out door is. securely closed and the.bleeder valve 65 is opened. The air which has entered the housing,during the cleaning process is expelled therefrom by pressure fluidsconducted into the chamber through a by-pass line 61 having a by-passvalve 68 therein. The by-pass line communicates with the interior of theinlet conduit H and is connected to the clean-out pipe 5 i between thevalve 60 and the housing, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. Pressurefluids from within the inlet conduit will flow through the by-pass line61; and the clean-out line 6| to the interior of the housing and willexpel or eject any air which has accumulated therein by forcing the sameoutwardly through the bleeder pipe 64 connected in the cleanout hatch.After the air has been completely or sufilciently ejected from thehousing, the bleeder valve 55 is closed and the pressure fluid from theinlet conduit is;

permitted to continue to flow into the housing until the pressure withinthe housing is equal to the pressure in the pipe line, whereupon thebypass valve 68 is closed.

The tube orbarrel ll may then be raised to the position shown in Figure1 for reloading with a cleaner projectile in the manner previouslydescribed.

The operation of raising the tube is the reverse of the loweringoperation. The large hand wheel 28 is first rotated to turn the drivegear 26 to cause the gear wheels 23 to turn. The turning of the gearwheels 23 causes the operating rods H to be raised to lift the barrelinto alignment with the seat rings 46 and 50 in the upper portion of thehousing. The threaded bushings 31 are then rotated by turning the handwheels 39 to lift the screw rods 33-, whereby the wedge rings 30 areraised to the position shown in Figure 1 and are in tight sealingengagement with the end of the barrel and with the'seats 50 and 46 ateach end of the housing. With the tube or barrel in this. raisedposition, the pressure fluid within its bore may be exhausted or vented,in the manner already described, to permit insertion of a cleanerprojectile for repetition of the pipe line cleaning operation.

Under normal conditions, it is preferable that a cleaning device beconnected in the pipe line at each of a number of relatively closelyspaced points, whereby any desired section of the line may be cleanedselectively without the necessity of flowing the cleaning projectilethrough the entire length of the pipe line. Also, such installationspermit trapping and removal of the dislodged'foreign matter at each ofthe devices;

wherebylarge accumulations of removed or dislodged foreign matter areprevented and the pipe line may be more readily kept cleaned.

-If. desired, the tube or barrel I! may be positioned in alignment withthe'inlet and outlet conduits and the pipe line in the manner shown inFigure 3, whereby. the cleaner projectile from a pointupstreani may flowcompletely through the housing to a point further downstream. However,such operation is not generally desirable and some'means must beprovided for stopping the cleaner projectile at the housing in such aman- I nerthat it may be removed therefrom for repair ora'djustment andreinserted for further use.

When it is desired to stop the cleaner projectile from upstreamat anyparticular housing, the. tube or barrel [1 is lifted to the positionshown in Figure land the cleaner. projectile is permitted toflow intothe interior or chamber I2 of the housing through the inlet conduit II.For both stopping the cleaner projectile and preventing damage to theseat I6 at the outlet conduit by the projectile flowing into the housingand striking said seat, a stop or bumper ring 19 is mounted in a bonnetII afiixed to the side of the housing and having an opening 12 providingfor communication with the interior of such housing.

suitable material, are secured to the rear surface of the bumper ringand are arranged to' engage the seat [6 to protect the same againstshock or scarring when the projectile strikes'the bumper ring. The lugs14 also space the bumper ring from the seat ring 16 whereby the flow offluids through the device is unrestricted. The spaces between" the lugsand between the bumper ring'and the seat ring, plus the opening 13through the bumper ring, are at least equal to and preferablygreaterthan the cross sectional area of the bore of the outletconduit'l3 whereby unrestricted flow through the housing is permittedwhen the bumper'ring is in the position shown in Figure 4.

An elongated screw rod or shaft T5is connected to the edge of the bumperring and extends outwardly through the endof the bonnet H and through astufiing box'lfi having packing 11 securely held therein by a glandmember 18. An internally screw-threaded bushing member 19 is threadedonto the outer endof the screw 'rod and is rotatably secured in abracket 80 provided on the outer end of the bonnet. A hand wheel 8|connected to or formed integral with the bushing provides for readymanipulation of said bushing. Manifestly, when "the bushing is rotatedin one direction the screw rod 15 will be moved longitu- 1 dinally tomove the bumper ring from itsretracted position within the bonnet H(Figure 2) ber.

The bumper or stop ring 10 is preferably maintained in the positionillustrated in Figure 4;

wherein it serves to protect the seat I6, during all periods in whichthe barrel or tube I1 is in the raised or upper position shown in'Figure1, but

is withdrawn into the bonnet H when the tube or barrel is to be loweredinto alignment withthe 7 pipe line as shown in Figure 3. V Y

If desired, and it is preferable, an inspection and service plate 80 may'form one entire side wall of the housing II]. In such event, the plate80 will be securely connected to the end and top and bottom Walls of thehousing by cap screws 8| extending through the plate into said end andtop and bottom walls. A packing gasket 82 interposed between theinspection plate 80 and the edges of the end and top and bottom walls ofthe housing prevents fluid pressure leakage therebetween. When thehousing is provided with such an inspection plate, the entire internalworking parts of the pipe line device are readily accessible for repairor replacement i or cleaning, as desired or necessary. In order toremove theinspection p1ate, the tube or barrel I! must be positioned insealed alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits or all flow throughthe pipe line connected torthe housing must be closed off by valves (notshown) upstream and downstream of the housing.

From the foregoing, it will readily be seen that a pipe line cleanerloading and clean-out device.

has been provided Whichpermits insertion of a cleaner projectile intothe. pipe line without in-..

terfering with the normal use of or flow through such pipe line, andwherein the cleaner projectile may be inserted without the necessity ofparting the pipeline or,closing off the floww therethrough or losingpressure therefrom. It will also be seen that the cleaner projectile maybe inserted in the pipeline under pressure, or

without loss of pressure from pipe lines. other than such relativelysmall quantities of gases or other fluids as may be trapped Within thehousing of the device and that such quantities of gases asare permittedto escape from the housing are conducted or conveyed to 'a remote safepoint, whereby the danger of an explosion or fire or the like ismaterially reduced and the loss of valuable fluids is substantiallyeliminated. It is also mani-. fest that pipe line cleaner loading andclean-out,

. eration by single attendant, whereby a plurality of the devices may beserved by such single attendant and the cost of operation therebymaterially reduced. It will also be seen that once the pipe line cleanerloading and clean-out device has been connected. in the pipe. line it.is

constantly ready for use for inserting a cleaner projectile withoutcutting the pipe line or otherwise interfering with the operation-anduse of.

the line and without the danger of fire and explosion which is otherwiseattendant upon such parting or cutting of the line.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in, the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose 1. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, ahousing having a flow chamber from the spirit therein with an inlet andan outlet adapted to be connected with a pipe line, tubular loadingmeans movable in the chamber of the housing into and out ofcommunication with the inlet and outlet, said housing chamber serving asa conductor for fluids from the inlet to the outlet thereof when saidtubular loading means is moved out of alignment with said inlet andoutlet, means for moving the loading means said chamber, openable andcloseable means in the housing spaced from the inlet and outlet and in aposition providing access to the loading means when said loading meansis out of alignment with the inlet and outlet of the housing topermit acleaner element to be inserted therein while fluids are flowing throughthe housing chamber exteriorly of said loading means, said loading meansbeing movable into communication with the inlet and outlet of thehousing to permit the cleaner element to flow from the loading meansinto the pipe line to clean the same, and sealing means adjustable fromexteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends of the tubularloading means and the housing when said loading means is in alignmentwith the housing inlet and outlet and when said loading means is inalignment with said openable and clo-sable access means and spaced fromthe inlet and outlet.

2. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housinghaving a chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outletconduit communicating with said chamber, said housing being adapted tobe connected with a fluid pipe line whereby fluid flowing through suchpipe line may flow through the inlet conduit into the chamber of thehousing and outwardly therefrom through the outlet conduit, a tubularloading member movable within the chamber of the housing and having aflow passage therethrough, means operable from exteriorly of the housingfor moving the loading member within the housing chamber to move theflow passage of said loading member into and out of communication withthe inlet and outlet conduits, the housing chamber serving as aconductor for fluids when said loading member is moved out of alignmentwith the inlet and outlet conduits, and openable and closeable meansproviding access to the flow passage of the loading element when thesame is out of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits and thefluids are flowing through the housing exteriorly of said loading memberto permit insertion of a cleaner member into said flow passage fromexteriorly of the housing, whereby said cleaner member may pass from theflow passage'of the loading member through the outlet conduit to thepipe line when the loading member is moved to position the flow passagein communication with the inlet and outlet conduits of the housing, andsealing means operable from exteriorly of the housing for sealingbetween the ends of the tubular loading member and the housing when saidloading member is in alignment with the housing inlet conduit and outletconduit and When said loading member is in alignment with the openableand closable access means and spaced from said inlet and outletconduits.

3. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out deviceincluding, a housinghaving a chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outletconduit communicating with said chamber, said housing being adapted tobe connected with a fluid pipe line whereby fluid flowing through suchpipe line may flow throughtheinlet conduitinto 10 the chamber ofthe-housing and outwardly therefrom through the outlet conduit, aloading member movable withinthe chamber of the housing and having aflow passage -therethrough of a diameter substantially equal tothe boreof the pipe, means operablefrom exteriorly of the housing for moving theloading member within the housing chamber to move the flow passage ofsaid loading member into and out of communication with the inlet andoutlet conduits, said loading member being movable completely out ofalignment with the inlet and outlet conduits when the flow passage ofthe loading member is moved out of communication therewith, openable andclosable means providing access to the flow passage of theloading memberwhen the same is out of communication withthe inlet and outlet conduitsand fluids are flowing through the housing chamber e'iiteriorly of theloading member to permit insertion of a cleaner member into'said'flowpassage from exteriorly of the housing, whereby said cleaner member maypass from the flow passage of the loading member through the outletconduit to the pipe line when the loading member is moved to positionthe flow passage in communication with the inlet and outlet conduits ofthe housing, sealing means adjustable from exteriorly of the housingforsealing between the ends of thetubular loading member and the housingwhen said loading member is in alignment with the inlet and outletconduits and-When said loadingmembcr is in communication withsaid'openable and clos'ableaccess means and-spaced from the inlet andoutlet conduits of the housing, and stop means operable from exteriorlyof the housing andnormallyoutof alignment with the inlet and outletconduits of-the housing andinsertable intoand retractable from alignmentwith said conduits in the housing chamber and adapted when in alignmentwith said conduits to prevent a cleanermember from passing through saidhousing from the inlet conduit thereof. 4. A pipe line cleaner loadingand clean-out device including, ahousing having a chamberthereinand-having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicatingwith said chamber "and adapted to be connected with a fluid pipe line, atubular loading member movable in the chamber of the housing into andout of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits, means operablefrom exteriorly of the housing providing a fluid tight seal between theloading member and the inlet and outlet conduits when said loadingmember is in alignment with said conduits-for directing all fluidflowingthrough the pipe line through said loading member, said meansalsobeingoperable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing the bore ofthe loading mem beragainst admission of the fluids flowing through thepipe line when the loading member is out of alignment with the inlet andoutlet conduits, and-openable and closable means providing foraccess'tothe bore of said loading member frotn exteriorly of-the housing whensaid loading member is sealed against admission of fluid to its bore. 1

5. A'pipe line device adapted-to be connected in a pipeline for thepurposeof inserting a fluid operated cleaner member into said pipe lineand removing such a cleaner member from said pipe line and including, ahousing havinga chamber therein and having inlet and outlet conduitscommunicating with said chamber whereby fluids flowing through-the pipeline may flow into the housing-chamber and outwardly therefrom,- a

of communication with said inlet and outlet con- ,duits, means operablefrom exteriorly of the housing for sealing between one end of theloading barrel and the inlet conduit when the barrel is in alignmenttherewith, means also operable from exteriorly of the housing forsealing between the opposite end of the barrel and the outlet conduitwhen the loading barrel is in alignment therewith, both said means alsobeing operable from exteriorly of the housing for closing on the flowpassage of the barrel from admission of fluids thereto from the inletand outlet conduits when the barrel is out of alignment with said,conduit, whereby fluids flow from the inlet conduit through the housingchamber exteriorly of said loading barrel to the outlet conduit, and

openable and closabl means providing access to the flow passage throughthe loading barrel when .the same is out of alignment with the inlet andoutlet conduits and sealed against admission of fluids to its flowpassage.

6. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housinghaving a flow chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outletconduit in axial alignment on opposite sides of the chambercommunicating with said chamber and adapted to be connected with a fluidpipe line whereby fluids flowing through such pipe line may now throughthe inlet conduit into the chamber of the housing and outwardlytherefrom through the outlet conduit, a loading tube having a flowpassage therethrough and inclined end surfaces and movable within thehousing chamber into and out of alignment with the inletand outletconduits, means connected with such tube and operable exteriorly of thehousing for moving the same in the housing chamber, seating rings at theinner ends of the inlet and outlet conduits, wedge means movable in thehousing and adapted to be interposed between each inclined end of thetube and the adjacent seat ring to form a fluid tight seal therebetweenwhen the tube is in axial alignment with the conduits, seat means withinthe housing chamber spaced from the inlet and outlet conduits andadapted to be engaged by the wedge means to seal between said seat meansand the ends of the tube when said tube is in alignment with said seatmeans and out of alignment with the conduits, whereby the flow passagethrough the tube is sealed on to prevent fluids from within the housingchamber entering said flow passage, and'means providing access to theflow passage of the loading tube when the same is out of alignment withthe conduits, whereby a cleaner projectile may be inserted within thepassage of the tube, said projectile being permitted to flow into thepipe line when the tube is moved to alignment with the inlet and outletconduits of the housing.

7. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housinghaving a chamber therein and having'aligned inlet and outlet conduitsadapted to be connected in a pipe line, tubular loading means movable inthe housing chamber from a position in alignment with the inlet andoutlet conduits to a position spaced 7 from said conduits, wherebyflowing fluids will travel from the inlet'conduit through the housingchamber exteriorly of the loading means to in the housing at a positionspaced from the inlet and outlet conduits providing for access to thebore of the loading means when said means is outof alignment with saidconduits to permit insertion of a cleaner projectile into the bore ofthe loading means while fluids are flowing through the housingexteriorly of said loading means, means for operating said loadingmeans, and sealing means adjustable from exteriorly of the housing forsealing between the ends of the tubular loading means and the inlet andoutlet conduits when said loading means is in alignment with saidconduits and for sealing between the ends of said loading means and thehousing when said loading means is in communication with the openableand closable access means in said housing and spaced from the inlet andoutlet conduits, the housing chamber extending below the inlet andoutlet conduits to provide a sump forming a trap for extraneous matterremoved from the pipe line, whereby extraneous matter accumulating insaid sump trap will not interfere with movement of the loading means inthe housing chamber or with the flow of fluids through said chamber.

8. A pipeline cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housinghaving a flow chamber therein and having inlet and outlet openingsadapted to be connected in a pipe line, tubular loading means movable inthe housing chamber into and out of alignment with the inlet and outletopenings of the housing, said housing chamber serving as a conductor forfluids from the inlet to the outlet thereof when said tubular loadingmeans is out of alignment with the inlet and outlet openings of thehousing to permit insertion of a cleaner projectile into the tubularloading means while fluids are flowing through the housing chamberexteriorly of the loading means, means for operating said loading meansto move the same into alignment with the inlet and outlet openings topermit the projectile to flow from the loading means through the outletof the housing into the pipe line and to retract said loading means fromsuch position, and means operable from exteriorly of the housingproviding a fluid tight seal between the ends of the tubular loadingmeans and the inlet and outlet openings of the housing when said loadingmeans is in alignment with said openings, said sealing means also beingoperable to provide a fluid tight seal between the ends of the tubularloading means and the housing when said loading means is incommunication with the openable and closable hatch means in the housingand spaced from the inlet and outlet openings.

9. In a pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device of the characterset forth in claim 7, a con ductor communicating with the sump trap ofthe housing for conducting accumulated extraneous matter from said sumptrap to a remote point, valve means in said conductor for controllingflow therethrough, and a clean-out hatch in the wall of the housingbelow the conduits providing access to the lower portion of the housingchamber.

I 10. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, ahousing having a chamber thereinand having aligned inlet and outletconduits adapted to be connected in a pipe line, said housing havingsections forming chamber portions disposed radially from said conduits,one of said chamber portions being disposed below said conduits, tubularloading means having an axial flow passage therethrough and movable inanother radially disposed chamber section in the housing into and out ofalignment with the inlet and outlet conduits, means operable fromexteriorly of the housing for moving said loading means, sealing meansoperable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends ofsaid loading means and the housing when said loading means is inalignment with the inlet and outlet conduits and when said loading meansis disposed in the radially extending chamber section out of alignmentwith said conduits, said sealing means preventing passage of fluids fromthe interior to the exterior of said loading means and in the reversedirection, a loading hatch in the wall of the housing section in whichthe loading means is adapted to be moved and providing for access to theflow passage of the loading means when the same is in said section andout of alignment with the conduits, the housing chamber section belowthe conduits forming a sump trap for extraneous matter flowing into saidchamber from the pipe line, a conductor communicating with said sumptrap section for conducting fluids therefrom to a remote point, valvemeans for controlling flow through said conductor, and a clean-out hatchin the Wall of said lower section providing access to the interiorthereof.

11. In a pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device of the characterset forth in claim, 10, a valved conductor communicating with thehousing chamber section in which the loading means is movable andpositioned so as to communicate with the flow passage of the loadingmeans when 14 said loading means is positioned in said chamber sectionfor conducting fluids from the flow passage of said loading means to apoint exteriorly of the housing chamber, a fluid by-pass conductorextending between the inlet conduit of the housing and the housingchamber section in which the loading means is movable, said conductorcommunicating with the interior of the housing chamber and beingpositioned to communicate with the flow passage of the loading meanswhen said loading means is positioned in said chamber section, wherebypressure fluids may be conducted through said by-pass conductor from theinlet conduit to the interior of the housing or to the flow passage ofthe loading means for equalizing pressures therebetween, and valve meansconnected in the by-pass conductor for controlling flow therethrough.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

